Biography: Born to an American mother and an Irish father who were members of the Children of God, and the second oldest of six children, Rose's parents divorced and she moved to Gig Harbor, Washington, when she was just nine years old. Her high school years were spent in Seattle, where her father ended up. McGowan was a misfit in high school and began hanging out in gay bars, where she said she felt accepted. As an adult she acquired a gay following.

It was in the U.S. that McGowan began modeling. Her first role was won at the age of 19 as Nora in Encino Man, but it wasn't until she ran away to Los Angeles, California and met independent film director Gregg Araki that she found her big break. Araki cast her as the female lead in his film The Doom Generation, where she portrayed a foul-mouthed sexpot in the midst of a violent, crime-prone bisexual love triangle.

Another small role in the film Bio-Dome with Stephen Baldwin led to the role that brought her into major public attention. McGowan was cast as Tatum in the horror film Scream. As the stereotypical busty blonde victim. McGowan left a lasting impression on the audience. Soon she was appearing in independent films like Southie, Going All the Way, Lewis & Clark & George, and the movie adaptation of Phantoms by Dean Koontz.

Her next critically acclaimed performance would be in the 1999 black comedy Jawbreaker where she played a high school student who tries to cover up her (allegedly) accidental murder of a friend. McGowan was quickly getting a reputation for playing brassy, bitchy and often violent characters, and to add to this reputation she began a very public romance with shock-rocker Marilyn Manson. Soon McGowan was popping up at celebrity events in very revealing outfits with Manson on her arm.

McGowan ended their two year engagement over "lifestyle differences". Then several unwise script choices (including a small role in the wrestling-themed movie Ready to Rumble, which was a massive bomb at the box-office) served to nearly push McGowan out of the limelight. However in 2001 she was cast as Paige Matthews in the television series Charmed as a replacement for Shannen Doherty. Currently she can be seen on the show weekly as part of a trio of witchy-sisters.

She portrayed Ann-Margret in Elvis, a Mini-series aired in May 2005 for CBS about the life of Elvis Presley.